"if you want it to be collected, purified and treated , then piped directly to your homes - then somebody has to pay for that."

That is the be-all-and-end-all of it.

Currently 20,000 homes on "Boil Water Notices" in Roscommon the article above linked to stated. By all means Dick, throw a tantrum and refuse to pay, but over the course of time infrastructure does wear out and it does need replacing and upgrading - and as Dáithí says somebody has to pay for that - and that somebody should be those who use the service provided.

Whether Flouride is put into the water supply or not is a decision that has to be taken on the basis of the greatest good for the greatest number. Flouridation still remains the best means of fighting tooth decay. Is dental care free in Eire?